The Team

Brenda Dickhoner, PhD

PRESIDENT & CEO

Brenda has spent her career working in education policy at the national and state level. Recently, she served as the Mike A. Leprino Free Enterprise Fellow at Common Sense Institute where she examined the impact various education policies have on the Colorado economy and individual opportunity. Brenda has previously served as a policy expert at the Colorado Department of Education (CDE), helping design and implement programs to help improve the state’s lowest-performing schools and districts. Prior to CDE, Brenda supported education policy efforts at the Colorado Department of Higher Education and the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Brenda earned a Ph.D. in Public Policy at the University of Colorado Denver’s School of Public Affairs and studied political science as an undergraduate at Duke University. Brenda serves on the board of directors for the Charter School Institute, the statewide authorizer for public charter schools. In 2021, Governor Jared Polis appointed Brenda as a member of his Education Leadership Council. 

She and her husband live in Littleton with their two young boys. They are avid fans of skiing, rafting, biking, and, in general, exploring the beautiful state of Colorado.

Jonathan Finer

Vice President

Jonathan Finer brings over a decade of work in Federal and state public policy and politics. He most recently served as the Chief of Staff for the Colorado House Republicans under Minority Leader Hugh McKean and Minority Leader Mike Lynch. He previously served as the Regional Representative based in Denver, Colorado for U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Secretary Eugene Scalia, covering Colorado, North Dakota, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Prior to DOL, Jonathan served in the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and worked for Senator Cory Gardner and the U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget.

Jonathan earned a B.A in business administration and a B.S. in political science from Colorado Christian University, and an M.A. in economics from George Mason University. A competitive marathoner and skier, Jonathan can often be found running a local trail or up in the mountains. He lives in Lakewood with his golden retriever Theodore (Teddy) Ruffsevelt and is recently engaged to his fiance, Margo. 

Sage Naumann

Senior Advisor

Raised in Carlsbad, California, Sage and his wife, Sara, moved to Colorado in 2017. They own an adorable 1919 Craftsman bungalow in historical Brighton with their son, Claremont, and Basset Hound, Milton.

Sage is currently the Vice President of Communications at 76 Group. Previously, he worked as the Communications Director for the Senate Republican Caucus at the Colorado State Capitol. He has extensive expertise in graphic, print, and web design, copywriting, photo and video mediums, political campaigns, communications strategy, and social media management.

Also involved in his community, Sage currently serves as a Chair on the City of Brighton’s Historical Preservation Commission.

One of Sage’s greatest sources of inspiration is his brother, Dylan, who was born with cerebral palsy. He is also passionate about substance abuse and addiction treatment, as both his parents have suffered from alcoholism. Sage’s mother, Tamara, passed away from the disease in 2015 at just 44 years old, while his father now has over 15 years of sobriety.

Sage is also a columnist for the Gazette and publishes a Substack newsletter.

Kim Gilmartin

Executive Director, Liberty Schools Initiative

Kim Gilmartin is the Founder and Executive Director of the Liberty Schools Initiative, an educational choice enterprise based in Colorado. Kim helps parents create new school options, with the goal of empowering students to be critical thinkers, able communicators, and self-governed citizens.

With support from the Daniels Fund and Ready Colorado, The Liberty Schools Initiative connects with local communities and families who are seeking educational choice. Kim and her team identify options, educate parents, and cultivate partnerships in order to plant charter schools, private schools, micro schools and educational enrichment programs. 

With a strong background in classical education, Kim is a highly regarded leader in Colorado’s educational environment. The co-founder of Ascent Classical Academies, she was the driving force behind the past decade of its incredible seat growth, and she has helped parents open schools in four Colorado communities. Passionate about education reform, Kim is an inspiring advocate for parents who desire greater variety in education options. Highly knowledgeable in her field, Kim has gained years of experience in propelling grassroots support, and she is a skilled liaison between charter authorizers, community organizers, and school leaders.

Kim Gilmartin was named as a 2023 Charter School Advocate of the Year Finalist by the Colorado League of Charter Schools, and was featured in the national documentary: Whose Children Are They? She has served on the Golden View Classical Board of Directors, and on the advisory board for the Leadership Program of the Rockies. She actively supports numerous Colorado parent advocacy groups, and in her free time, Kim enjoys piano, reading, and spending time with her family.

 

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